Event: Salt Lake Symposium 2016

Mormon Mental Health Leaving Plato S Cave Understanding And Transcending Our Objectification Of Others

Rather than offering a narrow definition of objectification, this presentation explores it as a spectrum of misapprehension running from its mildest form (casual indifference) to its most extreme manifestation, (dehumanization). Gleaning insights from classic philosophy, the world’s five most prominent religious traditions, and current social science research, the presentation examines the best antidotes humankind has …

Read more

The Plat Of Zion A Comparison With American Ideal Cities

The Ideal City has its origins in Renaissance ideas which drew upon more ancient ideas. Mormon authors have not generally talked upon the Plat of Zion beyond recognizing it as an example of an ideal city. This study compares the Plat of Zion with other examples of American Ideal Cities, specifically Philadelphia (Penn’s Holy Experiment) …

Read more

Was There An Original

Although every splinter since the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith claimed or claims to be the authentic version of Mormonism, the real question is whether there was “an original.” From the First Vision until June 27, 1844 Mormonism constantly changed. It was still a work-in-process at Joseph’s death. Even the design for the Nauvoo …

Read more

Lunch With Femwoc A Panel About Empowerment Within The Margins

Last year FEMWOC discussed how policies, procedures, and the imperialist American culture of the Mormon Church shaped the experiences of women of color—including black, diasporic, and indigenous women. Panel members will explore how women of color are using their experiences to claim space and establish roots within our physical wards and communities, the progressive Mormon …

Read more

A Crisis Of Perception New Paradigms To Address The Complexities Of Modern Mormonism

Mormonism has inherited ways of thinking that are no longer sufficient to understand or address the complexities facing the 21st century Church. Concepts from cybernetics, systems theory, and complex thought will be presented as alternative lenses with which to view and wrestle with the Church’s increased historical transparency, gender concerns, racial diversity, LGBTQIA issues, and …

Read more

The American Church Through Other Eyes

The LDS Church exerts considerable cultural influence in its international congregations. The term ‘gospel culture’ has been used by LDS leadership as a directive to replace local cultural understandings of the gospel of Jesus Christ with American LDS interpretations of it. What kinds of risks does this directive cultivate? What kinds of resistance does it …

Read more

Restoration Is A Personal Journey

We are each endowed by our Creator with an innate ability to communicate, to receive guidance, and assurance that we are safe, loved and equal in the eyes of God. We “fall” when we forget about this endowment. Restoration is the process of remembering the truths we lost in this fall. I will tell about …

Read more